Cian O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay North, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

There are two things this amendment is trying to achieve. First, it is to be more specific in the language. It asks not just to refer to landscape, but landscape features, including hedgerows. The word “landscape” alone will not necessarily cover that in the same detail. It also proposes to add “water resources”, which are a key part of the environment and its amenities and need to be specifically named here. There is also the issue of having these listed without having metrics or a way to evaluate them. Article 10 of the strategic environmental assessment, SEA, directive requires for metrics and criteria to be established to facilitate the evaluation of these criteria. It is important in terms of compliance with the SEA directive.

Regarding the word “historic”, the Bill currently states “archaeological, architectural and natural heritage”. It would strengthen the wording to include “historic”, because there can be heritage that is historic but that does not necessarily fit the other definitions. That is important as well.